William W. Bristow was born in Kentucky. He came to Oregon in 1848 settling near Pleasant Hill in Lane County. In 1849 he went to California to try his luck in the gold mines. Upon his return he married Elizabeth Coffey and made a donation land claim of 640 acres.

He was elected as a delegate from Lane County to the constitutional convention and was a member of the Committee on Corporations and Internal Improvements.

In 1858 he was elected to serve in the state senate for Lane County and served again in the 1872 and 1874 sessions. He was instrumental in having the state university located in Eugene. At the time of his death he was running for election to the U.S. senate.